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Afghanistan's intelligence chief was wounded in a suicide attack in Kabul Thursday, the president's office confirmed.

A senior police official said the attacker was among a group of people Asadullah Khalid was meeting with in one of the intelligence department's guesthouses. Khalid is head of the National Directorate of Security.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, speaking to reporters at the hospital where Khalid was being treated, expressed confidence that he will recover. Police haven't yet said whether there were other casualties.

"The chief of National Directorate of Security was targeted by a cowardly attack by terrorists, and by the grace of God his health condition is good," Karzai said. "Asadullah Khalid will be sent to an appropriate place for better treatment so that he can recover quickly and return to his job."

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and a spokesman said Khalid was the main target.

The spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said others were killed and injured.